Japanese Works of Art - 20th May 2026

Lot 746

A JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER INRŌ

Estimate £150 - £250 | Hammer £254

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Description

A JAPANESE THREE-CASE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER INRŌ
MEIJI ERA, 19TH CENTURY

Decorated with a continuous design of a shōrō (bell tower) beside a flowering paulownia tree, all rendered in gold hiramaki-e, nashiji, kirikane lacquer and aogai (mother of pearl) on the black roiro ground, 7.6cm.

WITHOUT RESERVE

Beyond their religious use, shōrō functioned as vital civic infrastructures for time-keeping and sounding alarms for fires, natural disasters, or approaching enemy forces.